Ten years in to my coaching career at the University of Kentucky and while our sons were in elementary school, my wife,Sharon, was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few weeks after surgery, while she was receiving chemo-therapy, she shared this verse with me: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members …
People who pursue a career in baseball understand failure, perhaps, more than almost anyone else. It has often been said, “To hit the magical .300, you must fail 7 out of 10 times.” Successful baseball players learn that they can’t let their failures define them. Instead, they let their failures teach them. As followers of …
I confess to you that I am a creature of habit. I enjoy my routine each day. I won’t bore you with my routine because, well, it’s boring. Yet, I enjoy it. The problem is this; sometimes my routine prohibits me from allowing God to use me for something adventurous. Sometimes, perhaps often, we need …
This verse I carry in my mind and heart with thanksgiving. It reminds me of the incredible grace that is available to each of us. None of us deserve it. It’s a gift from God. He loves us this much! 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, …
Everyone has a gift or gifts. We may envy the gifts God had given to others, but the gift or gifts He has given to each one of us may be used by God in a significant way. God sees the gift He has given to you as “good” and “perfect.” “Every good and perfect …
Each one of us will likely make decisions today. Some will seem minuscule and others will loom large. Many of them will affect the lives of others. My “go to” verse when making decisions: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will …
It’s very hard to grow and improve if we don’t recognize our need for improvement. Not many pastors or Christian authors want to talk about sin in fear they will be viewed as narrow and self righteous. Repentance and growth only come from conviction of sin. Christ wants to forgive us and place us on …
“Do not fear the conflict and do not flee from it; where there is no struggle, there is no virtue.” (John of Kronstadt) God uses trials and conflict to help us grow and to become close with Him. Through them, He is preparing us for a higher calling. “Perseverance must finish its work so that …
Author Mark Batterson reminds us that “when Christianity becomes a noun it becomes boring for most people. Christianity was intended to be a verb.” As Christians, we should be all about serving, helping and encouraging people…and engaging in a relationship with Christ. “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by …
What if we woke up today with only what we thanked God for yesterday? “…The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ …